A blog about software engineering and other topics.written by Jonathan Dodds

December 22, 2005

Word On Pizza Incident

This story goes back over ten years.

I was working for a small company in Venice, CA. I think it was a Friday afternoon. I don’t remember the reason for the occasion but the company ordered in pizza for everyone and we all gathered in the conference room.

The pizza was from a local place in the neighborhood. Marc was extolling its virtues. Jerry, the company Vice President, was in the room. Marc brought up that Jerry had skills as a chef and made his own pizza at home. “Jerry’s pizza is as good as this pizza,” Marc proclaimed.

At which point I failed to stifle a laugh.

Now Marc considered me a rival and he was quick witted. He saw an opportunity and he acted. He chastised me for laughing at the idea that Jerry’s pizza could be as good. I was surprised and dumb-founded by this turn of events. Instead of correcting Marc I was speechless.

So Jerry, if you read this, it wasn’t my intent to offend. Just the opposite. But I think you knew that.

Marc’s transparent attempt at self-promotion was amusing but what really made me laugh was that I thought the brought-in pizza was absolutely terrible and that anyone even semi-competent in the kitchen (and Jerry was known to be more than semi-competent) could make a far superior pizza.

I feel so much better now that I’m getting the last word — ten years late.